Elections: A Research Guide

***C. E. BROWN LIBRARY SUBJECT GUIDES***
BOOKS
Elections: A Research Guide

Informed students, researchers, and citizens have a variety of resources from which to check on current and historical elections, candidates, platforms and issues. They can also check to answer frequently asked questions like where to register to vote and dates of the next election. This guide introduces the researcher to some of the basic informational sources on the topic. The terms and phrases listed in the subject headings below can be used to search for more materials in the library's catalog and research databases. If you need further assistance, please ask a librarian.

BOOKS \| WEB SITES: CANDIDATES AND ISSUES \| ELECTION NEWS AND INFORMATION \| ELECTION LAWS AND FINANCE \| ELECTION AND VOTING SYSTEM REFORM \| SUBJECT HEADINGS \| RELATED RESEARCH GUIDES
top	Elections A to Z by John L. Moore. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly, 1999. ISBN: 1568022077. An illustrated encyclopedia covering every aspect of elections in the United States. Guide to the 2004 Presidential Election by Michael L. Goldstein. Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2003. ISBN: 1568028482. An objective journey through the presidential election process including biographical material on candidates, important issues, and developments. The Routledge Historical Atlas of Presidential Elections by Yanek Mieczkowski and Mark C. Carnes. New York: Routledge, 2001. ISBN: 0415921333. A summary of how people voted in presidential elections from 1788 to 2000.
WEB SITES: CANDIDATES AND ISSUES
top	Democratic National Committee www.democrats.org Official Web site of the National Democratic Party. States all have their own committees. League of Women Voters www.lwv.org A nonpartisan political organization that urges the informed and active input of citizens and works to increase understanding of major public policy issues. National Republican Party www.rnc.org Official Web site of the National Republican Party. Each state has additional Web sites on a regional basis. Politics www.politics.com Provides a list of all candidates from the 2000 election, including biographical information and links to available official and unofficial Web sites. Also includes information about the current administration and elections in other states. Project Vote Smart www.vote-smart.org Nonpartisan source of information and analysis of candidates, issues, and ballot measures. Includes biographical information about office holders and candidates.
ELECTION NEWS AND INFORMATION
top	C-SPAN www.c-span.org Provides coverage of politics and elections, including video footage of speeches and advertisements, a calendar of campaign events, and links to the Web sites of the major candidates. Election Information, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives http://clerk.house.gov/members/electionInfo/index.html Provides official federal election vote counts, as far back as 1920. United States Election Project http://elections.gmu.edu Provides timely and accurate election statistics, electoral laws, research reports, and other useful information regarding the United States electoral system. United States Elections 2004 http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/election04/homepage.htm Provides an introductory overview of the American electoral process. U.S. Electoral College, National Archives and Records Administration www.archives.gov/federal_register/electoral_college/ Explanation of the electoral college including statistics and historical accounts.
ELECTION LAWS AND FINANCE
top	Federal Election Commission Financial Reports and Data www.fec.gov/finance_reports.html Find financial disclosure reports from congressional and presidential campaigns, including political parties and political action committees. Opensecrets www.opensecrets.org Sponsored by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, this Web site provides a guide to campaign donations and the role of money in elections
ELECTION AND VOTING SYSTEM REFORM
top	Center for Voting and Democracy www.fairvote.org A nonpartisan organization that studies how voting systems affect participation, representation and governance. National Commission on Federal Election Reform www.reformelections.org This nonpartisan group was organized to study the federal election system and to recommend ways to improve its fairness and accuracy.
SUBJECT HEADINGS
top	elections—United States—encyclopedias political campaigns—United States—history political parties—United States—encyclopedias political parties—United States—platforms—history presidential candidates—United States—history presidents—United States—election
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last updated: July 2005
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